朋友遍天下

Track 4

by Gail Molsbee Morris翻譯：Cass

朋友遍天下

Track 4

by Gail Molsbee Morris翻譯：Cass

I was a1）military brat. My father was a2）marine officer before my birth and until I started high school. We moved twelve times in fourteen years. When people learn this，they ask， “How did you ever make friends with anyone？ That must have been hard for you.”

But I don’t think it was difficult. Quite the opposite is true. Each move was an opportunity to grow and a chance for adventure.

My mother told me， “You may be sad about leaving your best friend here， but you will make a new one where we’re going.”I learned she was right.

Even though I left behind best buddies， I never3）dreaded the moves or shed tears when we left one4）military base for another. At every base，there was a mass of children to5）befriend. And each military child was connected.

Military6）transfers taught me the meaning of7）acceptance.8）Diversity was something to be welcomed， not avoided. I learned that no matter where someone came from， or how different we were，we had something in common that could be the9）foundation of a friendship.

As an adult， the moves we made have served me well. Meeting folks from different backgrounds gave me the ability to10）mingle in a crowd of strangers. As a military child， I didn’t wait for someone to befriend me； I stepped up and introduced myself. If I see someone standing alone at a party， I’ll head towards them with a smile. If I see someone sitting alone at the doctor’s office，I’ll start a conversation. Yes， at times the other person may not be11）receptive， but there’s always the chance the first hello will become a forever friend.

1） military brat 軍人的小孩

2） marine ［m?'ri?n］ adj. 海軍陸戰隊的

3） dread ［dred］ v. 害怕，擔心

4） military base 軍事基地

5） befriend ［b?'frend］ v. 待人如友，結交

6） transfer ［tr?ns'f??］ n. 調任

7） acceptance ［?k'sept?ns］ n. 接受

8） diversity ［da?'v??s?t?］ n. 差異，多樣性

9） foundation ［faJn'de???n］ n. 基礎

10） mingle in 融入，交際

11） receptive ［r?'sept?v］ adj. 善于接受的，有容納力的

I12）stay in touch with several friends from my childhood. Karen gives me a place to live in when I’m in California. Elizabeth opens her doors when I’m in Virginia. We don’t live close to one another or see each other often， but we value our friendship and memory about the adventure our military13）upbringing provided.

Because of my military experience， my adult friends are varied and numerous. They keep my life14）dynamic. They challenge me to be a better person， give me support during down times， and grant forgiveness for my flaws.

As a military brat I can’t say， “I’ve lived in this house for twenty years.” But I’m blessed to have gained lifelong friendships and characteristics that move my life in a positive direction every day.

我出身于軍人家庭。在我出生以前直到上高中期間，我父親都是一名海軍陸戰隊的軍官。十四年間，我們搬了十二次家。當人們得知這個情況時，他們會問，“你都是怎樣結交朋友的？肯定很難吧。”

但我并不覺得有什么難的。情況恰恰相反。每一次搬家都是成長和冒險的契機。

我母親告訴我：“離開你這里的好朋友也許會讓你難過，但在我們要搬去的地方，你將會交到新朋友。”

我逐漸體會到她說的沒錯。

雖然我離開了好朋友，但是我不曾害怕過搬家，也不曾在離開一個軍事基地去往另一個的時候流過淚。在每個基地，我都可以和很多小孩子交朋友。軍人家庭里的小孩相互之間的關系都很親近。

軍隊的調動讓我學會了接納。我們應該歡迎而不是回避差異。我明白了，不管對方來自哪里，與自己有多么不相同，我們總會有共同語言，并可以在此基礎上建立起友誼。

成年之后，那些搬家經歷令我受益匪淺。結識不同背景的人使我具備了快速融入一群陌生人當中的能力。作為生在軍人家庭的孩子，我不會等著別人和我交朋友；我會主動上前介紹自己。在派對上，如果我看見有人孤零零一人，我會帶著笑容接近他。在醫生的診室里，如果我看見有人獨自坐著，我會和他攀談。是的，可能有時對方不會接受我的友好，但有了第一句“你好”之后，就多了個一生的摯友，這樣的幾率總是存在的。……